Entering The Golden Age

After 16 Years, Event Still Draws Devoted Athletes Trying To Medal.

February 19, 2006|By Gary Curreri Special Correspondent

Robert S. Smith, surveying the competition in his first South Florida Senior Games, said his heroes are the "guys who are 80 and over."

"I hope to be that way someday," said Smith, 62, of Hollywood. "I make it a point to talk to those guys. At the pool I swim at in Hallandale, there is an 88-year-old and a 93-year-old, and I want to grow up and be like them."

A swimmer for more than 35 years, Smith won gold medals in the 50- and 100-yard backstroke in the 60-64 age division.

"It is a fun thing to do," said Smith, a collegiate swimmer at Michigan State University. "I like the low-key of it, yet you could do a nationally ranked time."

Competitors ages 49 to 102 participated in 63 events in 37 athletic and leisure events Jan. 25 to Feb. 8 in the 16th Senior Games at various venues throughout Broward County.

For most competitions, age divisions are in five-year increments: 50-54, 55-59, 60-64 and older.

Dori Horowitz-Remillet, special populations coordinator for the Broward County Parks and Recreation Division and Senior Games coordinator, said the turnout of 790 competitors and 3,300 spectators was down from past years.

"I am certain the hurricanes had a large effect," she said. "There were residual effects from the storms, and it also affected our advertising and mailing on the events."

Leon Liebman, 83, has competed in table tennis every year since the Games began.

He has a daily ritual that involves looking at his mirror.

"When I wake up in the morning, I look in the mirror and I thank God I am still alive," said Liebman, who lives in Century Village in Pembroke Pines.

Liebman finished second in the 80-84 age group in the Men's Singles Division of the Senior Games. He has never left the Games without at least a bronze medal.

"It is not the thrill of victory," said Liebman, who plays five days a week for 11/2 hours a day. "I just enjoy the game, especially when you meet different people."

Another of the 20 competitors from Century Village, Ruth Loewy, 82, also competed in table tennis.

Loewy also won two gold medals in swimming, and competed in the arts -- woodcutting. Like Liebman, Loewy also has competed annually since the Games began.

She has never walked away without at least a bronze medal.

"I practice every day and I swim every day," Loewy said. "It was fun and it still is fun. I am not finished. My grandson, Andrew, calls me every day to say he is proud of me. That's special."

Danelle Kelly, 53, competed in her first Senior Games and won the 100 meters in 17:03 for the women's 50-54 age division.

"I hadn't run since grade school," said Kelly, of Weston, who grew up in New York and competed in intramurals where she used to "beat the boys."

"It was very exciting," said Kelly, who also plays tennis. "I have been jogging about a mile to two miles a day for four days a week and just decided to give it a try. I always had visions of being the next Wilma Rudolph, and now maybe I will pursue that a little further."

Joe Herkert, 55, of Southwest Ranches connected on 46 of 50 targets and won the 55-59 age group division in trapshooting.

"It's just a fun challenge," he said. "Each bird flies in a different direction, and you constantly have to be ready for wherever it might go. The best part is that you never really know where it is going to go next."

Charlie Bradt, a bridge competitor, was the oldest participant at 102 to ever compete in the Games.

A new event -- a cricket home run tournament -- was added, but later canceled because of a lack of participation.

The opening ceremony was at Lauderhill Sports Park, and the closing ceremonies were at War Memorial Auditorium. The South Florida Senior Games is one of 19 regional events which act as qualifiers for the Florida Senior Games State Championships.

The state Games will be hosted by Lee County and the city of Cape Coral Dec. 2-10.

Athletes finishing in first through fifth place at a local Senior Games qualifier are eligible to compete in the state championships. Winners at the state competition will also qualify for the 2007 National Competition in Louisville, Ky., June 22 to July 8, 2007.

"Considering all of the circumstances," Horowitz-Remillet said, "I think the games were a success."